North Otago Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, APRIL 15, 1895.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8160, 15 April 1895, Page 2

North Otago Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, APRIL 15, 1895.

Wjikn the present Government starti d off on the p?litioil fillibustoring oxpoditio i that has now landed thpm on a snug, thoy assured tho constituencies that thoy would be ablo to make this colony progress without the assistance of tho monoy lender. ISo doubt they believod wlnt thoy wore Baying. Like our first parents thoy know no bettor, and in their iguoranco they made a promise that circumntancot soon mado them regret ; but this regrot did not Gnd expression in an admission of the faot that they had had to depend on borrowed monoy to make both ondfl meet. Not at all. They still stuck — like limpota to a rock — to the assertion that thoy had carried on tho business of tho country out of tho ordinary revenue of the country. It waa only last seßsion that the Hon. Mr Ward made tho admission that they had added to tho debt of tho colony something over a million and a half. This was no revelation to those who had watched the affairs of the colony, and noted tho oxti&vag-wioo of the Ministry ; but it satisfied those friends of the Ministry who are as child-liko in tho acceptance of Ministerial utteranco* as a Simple Simon. If, therefore, tho Ministry plunged to tho extent of a million and a half ovor tho littlo thoy lave dono for tho oolony, what may we not expect whon thoy havo en'ored upon tho wild and reckless undertaking of opening up the bush lands of tho North Island for tho purposoa of settlement ? Not satisfied, howover, with settling tho road makers on tho land, thoy intend to go into tho saw milling business, so that while tho land is being cloarod the timber will not bo wasted, but will be sold in the colony or at Home. To enter into competition wjth tho saw millers of Ibo colony, who havC SUnk a gioat doal of cpital in their respective undertaking- 1 , will bo nothing to a Ministry who luvo nailed their banner to the flagp>lo of socialism ; but it would bo moro in keeping wi'h tho a 1 tributes of fair pUy if tho Government bought out tho saw-millers of the colony before ontering into competition with thorn in a business in which colonists gonerally will havo to make up the difference between revonuo and expenditure. If the now scheme of tho Government was calculated to ncoomplish even a tithe of all that is claimed for it the opposition of sensible peoplo to it might bo to come extent disnrmed ; but that it will ond in failuredismal failure — it is as certain as that tho nun shinos. The borrowed monoy HitU will bo spont and that the Ministry will havo in hand will sweo'en tho constituencies and help tho Ministry in tho next KenorAl election, eighteen months hone. 1 . This is tho secret of the Bohomc. It is Bimply an election dodge. The Ministry know, if they have any sonse at all, that rucli a scheme as thoy propose is certain of failure) ; that it is impossible for a man without means— and tho groat m»jority of tho onemp'oyed are without me»ns— to remain on tho land unless (ho Government pay to kesp him thero. Evon if the Govornmont cleared the hnd, fenced i% and built a houso on it for him, he could not remain there, for ho would luvo his implements and stook to purchase and ho ima no means wherowith to do so, Wo nsk uny sonsiblo man if it is possible to successfully eofU cleared laud by men without means'? Yot tho Government expect moro than thic They expect the impecunious intonding settler to pnnhlly clear his own land, bui'd fence?, houses, o'C, and remain thora, To expect this is to expect tho settlor and his family to oxist on fluc'ion. Whether suction will develop enough nutriment for tho purpso h for the future to reveal. In tho meantime the butcher and the baker and tho grocer luve to bo reckoned with, and tho reckoning will bj one of difficulty to all tho parties. concerned. It is a crying shame to tempt men to poverty and misery undor the namo of "settlement. " The scheme will end in misory for tho set'lors And hardship to the taxpayers of tho colony who will bo called on to rnako good tho lutorest on tho money boi rowed for the purpose. The hohome, however, is brought forward to delude tho eleo'cs. Eighteen months after this the bulk of the other land eottlemouts of the Government will have exploded owing to tho rents being out c f all proportion to the value of the land, and the expenditure of large sums of monoy is expeo'ed to koep Ihe workers sweet ; and it is with thin intention tho scheme is now brought forward, and with no other. Far bottor would it be Ho spend two millions on the purchaso of ttooA opon land, the erection of buildings and fences, and the Bottling of tho unemp'oyed rent free on the land. This would not entail so much loss to tho colony, and it would avert the suffering and misery that those who settle in the bush experience. The clearing of tho bush lands and the oel ing of tho timber could bo left to private enterprise. Thera are ( ' f o enough inspector* in tho colony withou* 1 creating an army of them to manage tht? *»• milling and timber business. _^ .

Mails for United Kingdom and Kurope, per Ruahine, via Montfl Vidoo (for specially addressed corrcspondcncd only), oloso at Lyttloton on Thursday, tho 18th April, tit 9.30. Mails for Australian Colonies, United Kingdom, Continent of Kurope, por Waihora, close at Auckland at noon on Wednesday, tho 17th inst. Mr Sumptor roports having «old sections 9, 10, 11, blook 89, sections 9 to 16, block 70, Ohelmor itroet, containing 2$ Rores, ! with iWn« dwalliog, to Ms BUck, (oc Ll7O.

It was stated in town on Saturday that Mr Jas. Craig, of Hilderthorpo, had met with a aovcro acoident through boing thrown out of his trap. He was, it is said, rendered unconscious for some time. How i tho accident happened we were not informed. The Hibernian Sports, for which good entries havo been received, begiu to-day at 11 30 sharp on tho show ground Tho members of the Hibernian Society aro requested to meet in the Lodqc room, Usk street, nt 10.30 this morning, to march in procession to tho show ground Tho concert under the auspices of the Hibernian Society, which takeo place this evening, should be an attractive affair, as Dunodiu, Invercargill, and OAmaru aro lending musical assistance. Tho performance will conclude with " Handy Andy," and this, wo be ievo, will bo produced with exceptional merit. It is said a reef has been found on tin Kldoralio or IJalruddery estate — the exact locality is not given — which is estimated by tho finder to produce 21 ouiicpb to tho ton. Like lieecham's pills this reef is worth more than those acquainted with the loca'ity ever expected it to produce The finder will not divulge till he is paid a largo lump sum, to give which would bo rather speculative in tho meantime. Wo hope the rumor is true. The bazaar in aid of the funds of tho Western Hall camo to a conclusion on Saturday, when Mr Neil Fleming disposed of tho goods that remained over from tho sale. Everything was thus got riJ of, and if the "takings" were not quito up to wh,at tho committee expected, to the inclemency of tho weather can be attributed the cause. Tho committee had provided a very attractive sale, but" tho elements wero against a large attendance. Mn Oko. Rodinson, surgeon dentist, will visit Waimato professionally on Tuesday, 16th April.